The Prolific Ternary System Pt/Sn/Nd: Insertion of Pt into the Structures of Sn/Nd Intermetallics Yields Structural Complexity and Wealth.

The understanding of structure and bonding in intermetallic phases still lags behind that of molecular compounds. For that reason, exploring intermetallic phases and identifying structural patterns and relationships are particularly important for closing this knowledge gap. In particular, here we report on the addition of increasing amounts of platinum to ∼2:1 mixtures of tin and neodymium, which yields eight ternary Pt/Sn/Nd compounds, four of which have not been reported before.

Ternary Polar Intermetallics within the Pt/Sn/R Systems (R = La-Sm): Stannides or Platinides?

Starting generally with a 4:6:3 molar ratio of Pt, Sn, and (where = La-Sm), with or without the application of a NaCl flux, seven ternary compounds were obtained as single crystals. The platinides PtSnR ( = La-Nd) crystallize with the PtGePr type of structure (52, , = 27.6-27.

TbPd, ErPd and ErCo: structural variations and bonding in rare-earth-richer binary intermetallics.

The three binary Tb/Er-rich transition metal compounds TbPd (triterbium dipalladium), ErPd (trierbium dipalladium) and ErCo (hexaerbium pentacobalt) crystallize in the space groups Pbam (Pearson symbol oP20), P4/mbm (tP10) and P6/m (hP22), respectively. Single crystals of TbPd and ErCo suitable for X-ray structure analysis were obtained using rare-earth halides as a flux. TbPd adopts its own structure type, which can be described as a superstructural derivative of the USi type, which is the type adopted by ErPd.

Crystal structures and new perspectives on YAu and YAu.

YAu (triyttrium tetragold) and YAu (tetradecayttrium henpentacontagold), two binary representatives of Au-rich rare earth (R) systems crystallize with the space groups R-3 and P6/m, adopting the PuPd and GdAg structure types, respectively (Pearson symbols hR42 and hP65). A variety of binary R-Au compounds have been reported, although only a few have been investigated thoroughly. Many reports lack information or misinterpret known compounds reported elsewhere.

RAuPn (R = Y, Gd-Tm; Pn = Sb, Bi): A Link between CuSn and GdAg.

A new series of intermetallic compounds RAuPn (R = Y, Gd-Tm; Pn = Sb, Bi) has been discovered during the explorations of the Au-rich parts of rare-earth-containing ternary systems with p-block elements. The existence of the series is strongly restricted by both geometric and electronic factors. RAuPn compounds crystallize in the hexagonal crystal system with space group P6/m (a = 8.